United Kingdom – Foreign income dividend claims

03 February, 2014

In a recent ruling, the England and Wales Court of Appeal issued a decision concerning the time limits for making foreign income dividend (FID) claims and “Manninen claims” in a test case for the FID and Tax Credit Group Litigation. The Court of

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Brazil: Withholding tax thresholds for Employee Profit-Sharing Plans Increased

03 February, 2014

The employee profit-sharing plan (participação nos lucros ou resultados, PLR) related tax withholding thresholds in Brazil have recently been modified. This will be applicable from 1 January 2014. For the taxable year 2014, the tax withholding

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Germany: Taxable Pension Threshold Lower

23 January, 2014

The taxable pension threshold in Germany has been reduced; tax will be due in 2014 on gross monthly pension income that exceeds EUR 1,225 for single taxpayers, and EUR 2,450 for married couples. This is part of an ongoing reform to progressively

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Argentina: Court Decision on withholding tax on commissions paid

23 January, 2014

Argentina’s Supreme Court has ruled that commissions paid by Argentine borrowers are Argentine-source business income and subject to withholding tax. The case was Hidroeléctrica El Chocón SA c/ DGI where Hidroeléctrica El Chocón (HEC), paid

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Colombia: Definitions for classification of resident individuals

10 January, 2014

Decree 3032 of 2013 has just been reported clarifying the classification of resident individuals into the employee and self-employed categories. The same Decree provide key definitions for employee; self-employed; personal service; liberal

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UK: Coalition Partner indicates preference for Income Tax Allowance Increases

07 January, 2014

The UK Deputy Prime Minister has said that the personal allowance could be increased beyond the  target GBP 10,000 in April 2014 if the Government were to abandon “pet projects” on tax and focus on on a single goal of a high allowance

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Belgium: Proposed changes to expatriate tax rules

06 January, 2014

The Belgian government has proposed legislation to amend the rules for determining the non-resident individual (personal) income tax as applicable to expatriates. Proposed changes include the repeal of personal exemptions for expatriates benefiting

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Latvia: Taxable base for social security contributions approved

01 January, 2014

The Latvian regulations that set the maximum taxable base for social security contributions, set at EUR 46,400 for 2014, entered into force on 1 January 2014. This amount will be adjusted

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Hong Kong: Lower Tax for Captive Insurers

31 December, 2013

The amended Inland Revenue bill (No.3) 2013 has been gazetted by the Hong Kong Government, aiming to reduce by half the profits tax on captive insurers, and to increase the deduction ceiling for retirement scheme contributions by employees or

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Taiwan: Worried At Non-Declaration of Property Income

30 December, 2013

Recently, Taiwan’s National Taxation Bureau (NTBT) published that the requirement to announce, on an income tax return, profits for an off-plan property transaction cannot be escaped non-residents is involved. They also specified that, even any

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US 2014 tax season to open on January 31

20 December, 2013

The United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has declared that it plans to open the 2014 tax filing season on January 31 instead of the original opening date of January 21. The new opening date for individual to file their tax returns for 2013

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US States Cut Taxes in 2013

18 December, 2013

Eighteen US states have cut taxes in the 2013 legislative year, reflecting an emphasis, following the recession, on pro-growth reforms that encourage economic expansion and competition, according to a new report by the Center for State Fiscal Reform

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Hungary- Extension to Family Tax Break

17 December, 2013

The tax incentive regime for employers of parents with small children has been extended in Hungary. The Employment Minister has announced plans regarding this. According to the new plan an employer of parent having at least three small children will

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Sweden: Social security contributions for employees in R&D has been reduced

12 December, 2013

A Legislation passed by the Swedish Riksdag which will enable companies with personnel working with research or development (R&D) to reduce their employer social security costs. A potential savings in employer social security costs of

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Finnish Administrative Supreme Court Order to pay interest on refunds of withholding tax collection

10 December, 2013

According to the Finnish Supreme Administrative court decision, Finland tax authority must pay interest on refunds of withholding tax collected in contrast to the EU law. The interest rate imposed on withholding tax refunds varies annually. In the

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Czech Republic – Changes regarding tax and insurance premiums

09 December, 2013

In the Czech Republic, under changes that are effective in 2014, employers will need to ready new rules regarding the taxation and insurance premiums in respect of employees. Again, there are changes to the social and health insurance premiums for

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South African Employment Tax Incentive

08 December, 2013

The Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) has been approved by the South African Parliament. The purpose of incentive is to alter the high levels of youth unemployment by reducing the cost to employers of hiring employees between the ages of 18 and 29. The

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Romania: Amendment of income tax rate for severance payments

08 December, 2013

Romania now limits the individual income tax rate of 85% with respect to only particular severance payment. Previously it was imposed on employees who were in management position or to the members of a board of directors under an Ordinance

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